Ch. 8

Marie was awake before anyone else the next morning. Dressing quickly, she stood up and went over to where her father was sleeping. "Will!" she whispered, nudging him with her foot.

He grunted an acknowledgement and turned in her general direction, but didn't open his eyes. "I thought you outgrew that 'wake Father up before the crack of dawn' habit years ago," he muttered sleepily. "What time is it?"

"Before the crack of dawn," she replied dryly. "I need to have a word with you…alone." Sighing, he pulled on his shirt and followed her a distance away from the camp.

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"Now, what's this all about?" Will asked, turning to face her.

"Why were you spying on us last night?" she asked bluntly. "Do you trust me so little?"

"I trust you, Marie," her father said wearily. "It's just everybody else I don't trust."

"For crying out loud, Father, I'm almost eighteen! Give me some room to make my own decisions!"

"You were under strict orders not to-"

"No," she interrupted, holding up a hand. "Don't even start to hide behind the rules. I'm tired of you trying to control every aspect of my life!"

"And what do you call all the freedom your mother and I give you at home?" Will argued. "It worries us sick, letting you roam the streets of Tortuga all day long, but we generally turn a blind eye."

"Then why can't you do that here? And while we're bringing up rules, you were under strict orders from Jack to stay out of my business!"

"These men are not like the boys you run around with in Tortuga," he said firmly. "I love most of them like brothers, but when it comes down to it, they're scum! Dirty men with dirty minds that focus on one thing whenever they see you. Can't you see that I'm protecting you?"

"I don't want your protection!" Marie exclaimed. "Juan is a good man! He loves me, and I love him! Why can't you see that? Most young women my age are getting married and starting families!"

"Not my daughter!"

"Yes, your daughter, Will! Whether you like it or not, I'm growing up! I'm not your little girl any more!"

"…You'll always be my little girl,' he said quietly, turning away so that she couldn't see his face.

"You are impossible!" she shouted. "Impossible! Juan was lucky, not knowing Jack! At least he never had to put up with a father like you!" Without another word, she stormed off, angry tears still streaming down her face.

Sighing, Will sat down wearily on a fallen log and buried his head in his hands.. He didn't know how long he'd been there when he felt Blackbird's hand on his shoulder. She didn't say anything for several minutes until he broke the silence.

"Were you this difficult as a teenager?" he muttered.

Blackbird shrugged. "Maybe. Probably worse, actually," she admitted with a grin. "I don't know…those years were such a blur…you'd have to ask Jack about that one. I'm sure he remembers all our arguments better than I do. What's going on with Marie?"

"She thinks she's an adult now," Will said quietly. "And she thinks she has the right to make adult decisions, and that I'm wrong to want to protect her. It's just…I don't want to see her hurt like you were at her age."

"I made my mistakes," Blackbird replied casually. "Marie will make hers. You're gonna hate me for this, Will, but let her go. Let her make mistakes. It's the only way she'll learn."

"You make it sound so easy…" he said through his hands.

Blackbird grinned. "I never said it was easy, mate. I just said you had to do it…We should probably be heading back. Jack said he wanted an early start today."

Will nodded and stood up. "You go ahead. I'll be there in a minute."

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Will took his time getting back. He felt better after giving himself time to calm down, but he still didn't relish the thought of going back and facing Marie. Still deep in thought, he didn't even see Blakey coming up until he'd been pushed aside roughly into a nearby tree trunk.

"Well, 'scuse me, Turner," the man said, grinning amiably. "Didn't see ye walkin' by down there."

"What do you want, Blakey?" Will asked crossly.

"Can't a man innocently bump into another?"

"Not when the man's you," Will shot back.

"So…how're things with that lass o' yours?"

"None of your business," he muttered.

"She's somethin' fine, aye?" the man said casually,

"I won't warn you again, mate: stay away from my daughter. Whatever enmity lies between you and me does not include her. I swear upon my life: if you ever touch her, I'll kill you."

Blakey threw his hands up in mock-surrender. "Hey, all yours. I was just statin' my observation." Scowling fiercely, Will just pushed past him and continued back toward camp.

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The men trudged wearily through the heavy mist. Everyone was in low spirits to begin with, and the weather was doing nothing to help. Will had long given up on apologizing to Marie, his few attempts having been met by cold stares or simple refusal to acknowledge him. This put him in a foul mood, and he just stared ahead sullenly as they continued along.

When they had gone several miles further, Blackbird came up beside Jack wordlessly. "Something's wrong," she muttered without turning to face him.

He nodded slightly. "I feel it too."

"Ever since we set foot on this island, I've gotten the feeling that someone -or something- is watching us," she said. "I don't know…it could be nothing-" She stopped suddenly. A fierce-looking man stood in the middle of their path. His clothes seemed primitive; in his hand a sharp spear glinted in the pale light…and it was pointed straight at Jack.

A/N: Pretty short chapter, but my little cliff-hanger should keep you interested. Next chapter should be a bit longer.